After a decade with nothing built, Mecklenburg County is trying again to redevelop Brooklyn Village in Uptown Charlotte.
County commissioners on Tuesday, Oct. 20, discussed a new proposal from Charlotte-based developer First and Early, WFAE reported. Queen City News also reported that the county is pursuing a new agreement after ending its deal with BK Partners.
Ten years, no apartments
The county picked the Florida-based Peebles Corporation 10 years ago to rebuild the historic Black neighborhood of Brooklyn in Second Ward, WFAE reported. Peebles never built a single apartment.
Peebles recently sold one parcel to First and Early. The county has filed a lawsuit against the Peebles Corporation over the other parcels in the Brooklyn project.
The new plan
First and Early's proposal keeps the same total size as the earlier plan, 630,000 square feet, according to WFAE. But it has less office space and fewer apartments. It adds a 150-room hotel.
Construction would begin three years after the county approves the proposal. WFAE reported the county says the land could be developed in three years.
Mixed reactions
Some commissioners were pleased and said the county needs to move forward, according to WFAE.
Others want changes. Commissioner Susan Rodriguez-McDowell wants more than 10% of the units set aside for affordable housing. Commissioner Arthur Griffin said the project doesn't honor the neighborhood's past.
"What I would ask you to do is to figure out what's meant by preserving Brooklyn's legacy," Griffin said. "I don't see that anywhere."
Commissioners will vote on the deal in November, WFAE reported.
A neighborhood with history
Brooklyn was a center of Black life in Charlotte before it was cleared in the 20th century under urban renewal. The Brooklyn Village project was supposed to bring new life to the site and honor that history. The debate over affordable housing and legacy has followed the project from the start, and it's still front and center.
Why so many big projects stall
Brooklyn Village is a reminder that being picked as developer is not the same as building. Big public-private projects depend on financing, market timing and tenants lining up. When office demand shifted and costs rose, plans like this one often stalled. The new proposal's shift away from office space and toward a hotel reflects how the market has changed.
What to watch
- November: Commissioners vote on the First and Early deal.
- About three years after approval: Construction would begin, according to WFAE.
- The lawsuit against Peebles over the remaining parcels.
Why it matters for contractors
A 630,000-square-foot mixed-use project in Uptown Charlotte, with apartments, retail, office and a 150-room hotel, would be a major job for the region's commercial contractors. That's high-rise or mid-rise construction with structured parking, MEP and finish work across several building types.
But don't expect work soon. Even if commissioners approve the deal in November, construction wouldn't start for about three years. The lawsuit over the other parcels adds more uncertainty.
For contractors in the Charlotte market, this is one to track over the long term. Design and pre-construction work could start sooner than construction, and that's often where general contractors and major subs get involved. Pay attention to the affordable housing share too. If commissioners push it above 10%, that could change the mix of units and the funding sources, which can affect the timeline and bid requirements.